Product: Ketron Midjay
Price Paid: US $1750.00
Submitted
03/14/2005
at
05:49am
by
Bob Hughes
Ease of Use
:
9
The Midjay is a very unique sythesizer, and more. It is difficult to classify it as it does so much. It is meant for musicians or DJ's, and allows you to be both at the same time. It plays Midi, wav and MP3 files. It is also an arranger module with on board styles and voices. The sounds are fantastic, the same as the SD1 which is probably the best arranger keyboard in the world, right now. It has built in styles with multiple intro's arrangements, fills and endings. It also has, on board Dj loops and grooves as well as sound effects. You can cross fade any combo of files to fade one out and one in, for a smooth transition from one song to the next. This is a brand new item and a full manual hasn't even been released yet. Their is an "Express Manual" which is really a quick start guide. So there is a big learning curve, partly because this has a lot of features and is a lot more than just a midi player, so it can be a bit complex. That is why I won't give it a ten in this category. Believe me I am a tough critic. If you want a full feature arranger, than you don't want this. It has limited editing capabilities. Get an XD3 module if what you want is strictly a full feature arranger.
Features
:
9
This is an arranger that has limitied features. If you use it with a keyboard controller it is great. You can program a lot of functions to your liking. If you use it with a midi guitar or accordian, you will have some limitiations. The voices are outstanding, while the on board styles are very good. Also, you can load in styles from other Ketron products such as the X, XD and SD series synths and these styles are great. With a software program calle Styleworks, you can convert other manyufacturers styles to work in the Midjay. The DSP effects are very good. It has a USB connection to easily connect to your PC so you can access it's 20 gig hard drive. It plays wav files and MP3 files as well as midis. It has a microphone input, which I am using on the gigs, to access the DSP features which sound great. It records wav files, so you can overdub or layer sounds and voices. This is a nice digital recorder which I will use to recordd my next CD. It has an available vocal harmonizer, which I did not get, since I use an external Digitech vocalist. I have even started to load in MP3 files, sans voices, to accompany me. With this machine you can be part musician, part DJ and part Karaoke, if you wish. Or you can just use it one of the 3 ways. I am 63 years old, but I can still rock and roll. My main clientel are seniors, but when I play a party with younger folks, such as weddings and anniversaries, they are surprised to hear some of the songs I can play. The Mp3 player allows me to have a selection of their current favorites, just like a disc jockey. So I can satisfy all in the crowd.
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
10
You can not beat the voices and it works well for all types of music. Also, all of the voices can be edited, and saved, if you want to tweek them. It is even great for DJ's as you can store all you MP3's on the 20 gig hard drive and cross fade from one to another. It also has DJ loops and sound effect built in. As for the quality of the sound it has the best sounds out there today. I know sound is subjective and I don't put down Roland or Yamaha, but I prefer the Ketron sounds. I have used a Ketron product for the last 8 years, doing a solo act. The other musicians in my area have switched to the Ketron sound after hearing how realistic they are.
Reliability
:
10
I have been gigging with it for 3 months without a problem or a crash. Sometimes, when you work with midi files, they can screw up the settings of your synthesizer. That hasn't happened yet with the Midjay. Ketron has vastly improved it's customer support and technical help is just an email away. Also there are user groups available on the internet. Repairs for this Italian made product are done by it's US distributor in New York, Bell/Duovox/Ketron.
Customer Support
:
10
The US distributor and tech folks are great. They are located in New York and have a toll free number. Operating system upgrades are available for download at the companies main web site, www.ketron.it.
Overall Rating
:
10
I have been a musician for 50 years. As I have aged, I have found that carrying the heavy equuipment is getting harder and harder. The Midjay is only 7 pounds. This will allow me to keep on performing, hopefully, another 10 years. It has cut down my set up and tear down time, 15 minutes, for each. I have been doing a solo act for the past 8 years and this is the best I have ever sounded. I no longer use a keyboard, since I midi'd my guitar and use it to control the Midjay. I would definitely replace this if it were lost or stolen. I connect my midjay to a 300 watt, 6 channel, Yamaha PA head and 2 15" Kustom speakers. In smaller rooms I will use my Kustom Dawn system instead. This is much smaller and lighter, but still sopunds great. Since this is really a new breed of animal, I am still exploring the capabilities and potential of the Midjay. For example, I can play one of my midi files, and sing along and also play my guitar, while recording the whole thing a s awav file. I can then play back that wav file and again play nmy guitar and sing over it. In effect i am, accompanying myself. Or I convert that wav file into an MP3 file, to save hard drive space, and do the same. Oh did I mention tha you can lower or raise the key of the wav and midi files, and that you can mute out the lead of a midi file or the vocals in an MP3 or wav file. This is an amazing machine. I suggest anyone wanting more info go the Ketron site in Italy (you can get an english version) or visit Jay Salams. www.ketronus.com. Jay is a dealer out west that is very helpful and has a very informative web site.
